Home invasion sex assault gets priority for trial

ST. GEORGE – A St. George resident accused of breaking into a residence and sexually assaulting two women was granted priority Wednesday in 5th District Court for a four-day trial set to begin Aug. 11.

Todd Christopher Pacheco, 21, allegedly entered the home on 1990 East last August while the women slept inside. One of the women later told police she awoke to find Pacheco had removed her clothing and was sexually assaulting her.

Another woman who was visiting friends in the apartment reported she awoke as Pacheco was allegedly removing her underwear and sexually assaulting her.

At least one of the victims reportedly knew Pacheco, and officers didn't believe the home was targeted at random.

Defense attorney Trevor Terry had planned a motion to put the charges involving the two women on trial separately, treating them as separate crimes. But following the hearing Tuesday, he notified the court he is withdrawing the request.

If the charges involving Pacheco are resolved before the trial, second priority will go to a fraud case involving a Sandy resident accused of manufacturing fake customer passes to Green Valley Spa and Resort.

Max Govert Jolley, 39, is accused of making more than 1,500 guest passes with a value of $200 each, using a local printing company to duplicate legitimate passes without authorization and costing the spa $300,000.

"It is unknown how many punches and/or cards were illegally used prior to discovery by Green Valley Resort of the illegal cards," the resort's management states in one court document.